Digital Communications Specialist

University of Hawai‘i Foundation•Honolulu, HI

3d•$61,000 - $71,400

About The Position

The Digital Communications Specialist creates and manages digital content that connects donors, alumni, and the community with the impact of giving to the University of Hawaiʻi. Working with the Communications and Marketing team and partners across the UH Foundation and UH, the specialist handles day-to-day content publishing and coordinates with IT and technical partners on website functionality. The role maintains and improves the UH Foundation’s external websites, including uhfoundation.org and uhalumni.org, through content updates, audits, design, and usability work. It also produces donor-stewardship email communications and manages social media content, developing platform-specific stories that highlight philanthropic impact and encourage connection with UH.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a related field or 2–5 years of equivalent work experience.
Experience in web and UX design and layout.
Working knowledge of and experience with Google Analytics.
Proficiency in HTML, CSS, responsive frameworks, JavaScript, Drupal or other CMS platforms, and HTML5.
Experience with Adobe Creative Suite.
Familiarity with ADA compliance, web accessibility standards, and search engine optimization strategies.
Knowledge of cross-browser compatibility issues and experience addressing them.
Experience working with email marketing platforms.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize effectively, and meet deadlines.
Demonstrated discretion and ability to maintain confidentiality when handling sensitive information.
Must pass a background check upon offer of employment.

Nice To Haves

Experience with MailChimp.

Responsibilities

Maintain UH Foundation websites so they are functional, appealing, mobile responsive, and user friendly.
Process website content and images, and design engaging layouts and homepages that reflect the organizational brand and appeal to target audiences.
Develop and manage web-based content, including webforms, mini-sites, and collateral supporting events, donor stewardship, scholarships, and departmental needs.
Assist the communications team in refining content strategy, website structure, and navigation.
Proofread, edit, and craft online content with team members, ensuring editorial integrity and accuracy.
Assist Technology Services with configuring and implementing new website features.
Develop procedures for ongoing website review and revision, and create and manage an annual website content audit.
Track and analyze site usage, web marketing campaigns, website performance, and other metrics; generate reports to inform changes and improve user experience.
Gather, analyze, and document user feedback to identify and address usability and user-experience issues.
Keep abreast of web industry best practices and trends; ensure accessibility compliance and cross-browser compatibility.
Manage production of signature UH Foundation donor emails, including scheduling, content collection, review, and approvals.
Develop and deliver donor-centric email marketing communications, including newsletters, announcements, and publications.
Coordinate email audience selection with data partners and follow consent, unsubscribe, and data-handling procedures.
Provide email-template training and production support to UH Foundation colleagues and UH partners.
Plan and publish day-to-day content for the UH Foundation’s Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn channels.
Adapt donor stories, news releases, and existing videos into platform-specific social posts.
Capture photos and video with colleagues and campus partners to create short-form social content.
Develop recurring social content series that demonstrate scholarship impact, explain research breakthroughs, and connect donor support to visible outcomes.
Create ready-to-share content packages with subtle philanthropy messaging for UH Mānoa, UH System, and alumni communications partners.
Monitor social comments, messages, and mentions; respond to routine questions; invite participation; engage with relevant campus and community content; route donor inquiries; and escalate sensitive issues.
Use social storytelling to introduce prospective donors to giving opportunities and raise visibility for UH programs.
Coordinate content supporting employee recruitment, community partnerships, and connections with funders.
Establish platform-specific baselines and maintain a dashboard tracking audience growth, reach, meaningful engagement, link clicks, and completed actions where available.
Distinguish paid from organic social results and test formats, posting times, and calls to action against organizational goals.
Perform other duties and activities supporting the UH Foundation’s mission as assigned.

Benefits

UH Foundation-paid 10% 403(b) contributions after seven months of employment, automatic and not dependent on employee contributions; contributions are immediately 100% vested.
Term life insurance.
AD&D insurance.
Short-term disability insurance.
Long-term disability insurance.
Tuition reimbursement after one year of employment.
Employee assistance program.
Generous PTO and paid holidays.
Health, prescription, dental, and vision insurance, with costs shared by the company and employees.
Free parking after five years of service.
Medical flexible spending account available for purchase.
Dependent care flexible spending account available for purchase.
Insurance coverage for spouse and/or children available for purchase.
Critical care insurance available for purchase.
Legal insurance available for purchase.
Pet insurance available for purchase.